Numbers Crunch

Numbers can fascinate and amuse, and be used to start and settle all manner of sporting debates. But numbers can also tell stories. Here you’ll find the numbers that best reflect the pulse of sports in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Dec. 5-11, 2010

38Fewer catches this season for Huskies’ sophomore wide receiver James Johnson. Johnson made 39 catches during a strong freshman season and has just one this season.

1Number of wins Matt Hasselbeck needs to match Dave Krieg’s franchise record for wins by a starting quarterback. Krieg had a record of 70-49 (.588) from 1980-91. Hasselbeck is 69-59 (.539) in his tenure (2001-10).

3Postseason awards and counting for Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara. He has been named a Walter Camp All-American, an American Football Coaches Association All-American, and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

56Consecutive non-conference home wins for Texas A&M, Washington’s first road opponent of the season.

93The University of Washington’s rank among BCS teams in points for and points against. Washington scored an average of 22.1 and allowed 31.2.

3The number of times 5-foot-9 Washington guard Isaiah Thomas has outrebounded Washington big man Matthew Bryan-Amaning in eight games this season.

3The number of times Jack Cust, the Mariners’ newly acquired designated hitter, has led the American League in strikeouts. Cust fanned 164 times in 2007, 197 times in 2008, and 185 times in 2009. Last year, Cust whiffed just 127 times, but appeared in just 112 games. By way of comparison, Ichiro whiffed 86 times in 162 games in 2010.

203-point attempts for Washington point guard Abdul Gaddy in 2009-10. He has 20 already this season after just eight games. Gaddy made just three last season, shooting 15 percent. He’s made 12 already this year, shooting a cool 60 percent.

0Number of times (in 30 games) the Huskies have faced an opponent in a bowl game that it also faced during the regular season. But it will happen in the Holiday Bowl when Washington plays Nebraska, its Week 3 opponent this season.

0The Huskies are 0-3 in Holiday Bowl appearances, having lost to Colorado (33-21) in 1996, to Kansas State (24-20) in 1999, and to Texas (47-43) in 2001.

3Rushing touchdowns for Marshawn Lynch against Carolina, making him the first Seattle running back to accomplish the feat since Shaun Alexander did a trifecta on the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 13, 2005.

1Number of players in Seahawks history who returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the same season. Leon Washington had a chance to join Nate Burleson (2007) on that list Sunday, but his 84-yard, third-quarter punt return got foiled just feet from the goal line when Washington raised his right arm to celebrate — and got tripped by Carolina’s punter.

2Number of touchdowns scored by the the Carolina Panthers on Sunday — the most they have tallied in a game since Week 6.

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